Family Sharing and Apple ID for your child

With Family Sharing, you can create an Apple ID for a child under 13.* This allows them to participate in Family Sharing and use other Apple services such as iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, and Game Center.

To participate in Family Sharing, all family members must have their own Apple ID. Children under 13* can't create an Apple ID on their own. However, the family organizer can provide verified parental consent and create an Apple ID on the child’s behalf in their family group.

Check your payment method

To comply with child online privacy protection laws, you use the CVV, verification code sent via SMS, or security code from your payment method as part of providing your verified parental consent. If you do not have a supported payment method on file, you’ll be asked to change it to a supported payment method before you can continue. You can also learn more about how Apple uses your payment information.

Create an Apple ID for your child

Use the steps below to create an Apple ID for your child, then add them to your family group. After you add your child to your family group, they will have their own Apple ID that they can use on any Apple device. Your email address is the rescue email address for your child’s account, and you can use it with the security questions you provided to reset a forgotten password.

If the child already has a Game Center account, but not an Apple ID, you don't need to create a new account for them. Just search for their nickname instead.

Mac

Select Create an Apple ID for a child who doesn't have an account and click Continue.

Enter your child's birthday. Be sure to enter the correct date.

Enter your child's Apple ID (username@icloud.com), first and last name, and password, then click Continue.

Enter the requested information for your payment method and click Agree. If you don't have a payment method on file, you need to add one.

Follow the onscreen instructions to set a password, choose security questions, and set up your child's account. Choose passwords and security questions that you can both remember. You'll get an email confirmation after you create the Apple ID.

If your child has a Game Center account

If you want to add a child under 13* that already has a Game Center account, but not an Apple ID, follow these steps.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 10.3 or later:

Go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing > Add Family Member.

Enter the child’s Game Center nickname.

Follow the onscreen instructions.

On your Mac with macOS 10.12.4 or later:

Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud.

Click Manage Family.

Click , then enter the child's Game Center nickname.

Follow the onscreen instructions.

The child gets a message to enter their Game Center password. After they enter their password, the child is part of your Family Sharing group.

Manage your child's account

Children enjoy the same Family Sharing features as other family members and, by default, can access the same music, movies, TV shows, books, and apps. You can limit what content your child can access on the devices they use. Set Restrictions or Parental Controls on an iOS device, in iTunes, or on a Mac.

Ask to Buy is enabled by default for children under 13.* If you don't want to use Ask to Buy, you can turn it off:

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing, and tap the child's name. If you're using iOS 10.2 or earlier, go to Settings > iCloud > Family, and tap the child's name.